Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his team's second goal from the penalty spot during the Spanish league football match between Villarreal CF and Real Madrid CF at La Ceramica Stadium in Vila-Real on January 24, 2026. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP)
Across South America, a legion of pint-sized Kylians and Neymars will be following the fortunes of the stars to whom they owe their names when the World Cup kicks off on Thursday.
But in a year’s time, depending on which players shine, expectant parents may be leaning towards Lamine (Yamal, Spain), Ousmane (Dembele, France), Harry (Kane, England) or Vitinha (Portugal).
In Ecuador, which is taking part in its fifth World Cup, the most popular footballers’ names are not those of local stars such as Kendry Paez or Willian Pacho, a two-time Champions League winner with Paris Saint-Germain.
Instead, it is Brazil’s all-time record scorer Neymar, playing at his fourth and probably last World Cup, who tops the board, with 3,847 namesakes, the country’s civil registry said Wednesday.
